Foes Of Happiness

Happy New Year All!

Four years ago BiaB allowed us to leave our decades of traditional bluegrass and settle into our current comfort zone of Americana, blues and bluesy country. But every now and then we like to experiment with something a wee bit on the rock side so here is this year's effort :-)

During 2015 I ran into several folks I had not seen in years. They were overwhelmingly bitter about, well, seemingly everything. Most of their experiences seemed to be wrapped up in some form of negativity and they insisted on keeping the conversation there. I reflected a lot on this and ended up writing this lyric. It's obviously nothing profound but as I turn 70 this week it is an attempt to express my feelings on how to deal with negative folks. Don't engage - just run!

Thanks to Tom for his input on the write, arrangement and solo/rhythm guitar, to floyd for critiquing the mix and to my better half Janice for putting up with me by singing/creating melodies for whatever I throw her way.

As always we are very appreciative of your time to listen and comment.

Bass: RT 387 Electric Metal
Drums: RD Nashville Southern
Drums: RD Snare (grabbed from BiaB respective drum kit file)
Shaker: Apple Loop
Mandolin: RT 1755 Rhythm Pop 8ths
Guitar Rhythm: Tom Adams
Guitar Lead: Tom Adams
Lead Vocal: Janice, Rodes NT mic, Blue Icicle USB
Effects: Ozone 6, Ozone 5 and Nectar 2
Mixing/mastering stuff: Bud

Foes of Happiness
© 2016 B. Merritt/J. Merritt/T. Adams

Verse 1

I’ve never been told taking the high road would be easy
tolls, dead ends, wrecks along the way, nothing's ever free
pulling me back all the time, girl you ain't gotta prayer
well it may look like I'm still here, but I'm getting there

Ref

I've gotta get away, run from the foes of happiness.
I won't fall in their world of hatred and bitterness.

Verse 2

they're all around me, trying to put out my flame
chokin’ me like weeds in their garden of shame
get too close and they sprout up all around my soul
hang around too long, and they pull me down their hole

Ref

I've gotta get away, run from the foes of happiness.
I won't fall in their world of hatred and bitterness.

Solo

Verse 3

people that are stained by anger that'll never cease
I can't let them in, I won't let them poison my peace
give in and they'll steal everything that I value
stay on the high road, I can feel my spirit renew

Ref

I've gotta get away, run from the foes of happiness.
I won't fall in their world of hatred and bitterness.

I won't fall in their world of hatred and bitterness.

Outro

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